Each day this week I’ve been reading and meditating on Jesus’ last week leading up to the cross and Resurrection Day. This morning I was reading in Mark 14. I have heard this account in the gospels referred to as “A Rose Between Two Thorns”.
The chapter begins by setting the stage for the critical events that will follow. (vv1-2)
The Passover is approaching and Jesus’ opponents are getting desperate. Fearful of the public’s response, they plot ways to secretly capture and kill Jesus.
In verses 10-11 Judas agrees to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave (Ex 21:32).
Between these two ugly scenes is a beautiful picture of loving worship. It’s a picture of reckless extravagance for the Lord’s sake. It's a picture of what Jesus is about to do for us.
Mark 14: 3-9:
And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (ESV)
pure nard – a rare and precious treasure.
alabaster flask –opened only by breaking – never to be resealed or used again.
wasted – more devotion than calculation, spontaneous, unrepeatable.
beautiful – rather than depreciate this act of devotion, admire it
you will always have the poor with you – you will not always have me – they will always be with you – I will not.
she has done what she could – have I??
anointed by body beforehand for burial – Jesus takes what we do personally and sees it in ways no one else can
wherever the gospel is proclaimed…… what she has done will be told – Jesus, what can I do for you that will set an example for others to follow?
Several years ago Steve Green recorded a song based on this text. You can hear Broken and Spilled out here:
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